The Best Walking Tours in Berlin
Berlin is a moveable feast. The sprawling German capital has remarkable restaurants (serving cuisines from all over the world), amazing bars, some of the best clubs in the world, cool third-wave coffee spots, world-class museums, an eclectic mix of architectural styles, one of the most diverse populations in Europe, and a real mix of quirky subcultures.
To help you explore this complex history, there is a legion of guided tours you can take to get an up-close and personal view of this Central European metropolis — from walking tours to eating to drinking tours to biking to driving around in a Trabant, the kitschy Communist-era cars. Walking tours are my favorite way to see cities because you have a local guide you around who can answer your questions and share their insider tips.
Here’s my list of the best walking tours in Berlin to help you make the most out of your time in this cool capital!
Best Overall Tour
Insider’s Third Reich and Cold War Tour
If you want to see Berlin’s main highlights and learn about the turbulent past of Germany’s capital, take this Third Reich and Cold War tour. Run by expert local guides, it’s the best-paid tour for budget travelers looking to learn more about Berlin, its violent and complicated past, and how the city came to be. I can’t recommend it enough!
Best Free Tour
New Europe
This free two-hour walking tour starts at the iconic Brandenburg Gate and slowly makes its way around the main sites of the city, including the striking Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Hitler’s former bunker, a swath of the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie, giving you a nice introduction on the 20th-century history of Berlin. Just remember to tip at the end!
Here are a few more walking tour options to help you make the most of your time in Berlin:
1. Original Berlin Tours
Meet at the fountain near the Park Inn on Alexanderplatz and get ready for a fun, free tour of Berlin. With groups of 10 people or fewer, these walking tours will ensure you have access to the guide as you make stops at Reichstag, the Berliner Dom, Checkpoint Charlie, and various World War II places of battle. The itinerary is up to each guide, so you never know where she or he might take you. But you’ll learn a lot no matter what!
2. Secret Tours
Berlin has a lot of secrets — and Secret Tours wants to share them. Choose to head out to Teufelsberg, a Cold War-era base for US Army wiretapping programs on the edge of the former West Berlin; or explore Charité, the city’s weird and wonderful centuries-old hospital. You can also go on a walking tour through the backyards and courtyards of Mitte apartment buildings, an opportunity you would not get if you were trying to do it on your own. If you want something unique and niche, this is the company for you.
Tours from 20 EUR.
3. Trabi Safari
Tired of trudging through the city? Then hop in a Trabant, or Trabi, as they’re called in Germany. These diminutive automobiles were a Communist-era automobile staple in Germany. The body of the cars were made from plastic. Today they are a nostalgic symbol of the erstwhile East Berlin. And this tour company offers a drive around Berlin in a Trabi while you see the sights and learn about the history of the city. Best of all, you get your very own Trabi to drive during the tour.
Tours from 59 EUR.
4. Alternative Berlin Tours
If you’ve heard everything there is to know about Hitler and Bismarck and you want to skip the typical highlights and see a different side of Berlin, this free walking tour is for you. The informative guides regale tour-takers with stories about the squatting culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the legendary techno club scene, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and punk rock culture. Tours last around three hours and they end at a riverside “beach bar” where you can have a beer with the guide.
5. Fork and Walk
If you’re a foodie like me, this tour company does guided tours that combine food, street art, and history as well as tours for vegans (Berlin is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world). But if you take the “Trends & Classics” tour you’ll get to sample the iconic currywurst, sip some schnapps, drink some local brews, and eat German pastries, among other delectable things. Just make sure to bring an appetite!
Tours from 69 EUR.
6. Berliner Unterwelten
These fascinating walking tours take you underground. And I’m not just talking in metaphors. You literally stroll under the streets of Berlin, exploring various Cold War and World War II-era bunkers; gawking at the few remnants of Germania, the utopian metropolis that Hitler wanted to build; and walking through sub-terrestrial tunnels that were used for secret and nefarious purposes — including the tunnels that were dug under the Berlin Wall.
Tours from 16 EUR.
Walking tours are one of the best ways to get to know Berlin. There’s a lot of history, art, and little neighborhoods that you’ll never be able to really see without having a local show you around, and walking tours are one of my favorite ways to learn that insider knowledge. Start with my favorite to get an overview of the city and then branch out from there!
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Book Your Trip to Berlin: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
For hostels, here is a complete list of my favorite hostels in Berlin.
If you prefer to stay in a hotel, these are my favorites.
And if you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of Berlin!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWing (best for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want More Information on Berlin?
Be sure to visit my robust destination guide on Berlin for even more planning tips!
